Last.fm launches Android app

26th January 2009

Music social networking site Last.fm has launched a mobile app for the Android operating system.

The app takes the form of a radio service that allows users to stream Last.fm stations, view friends' profiles and search for upcoming events.

One of the main features of the new app is its background streaming capability, which lets users listen to Last.fm stations while they surf the internet elsewhere.

Toby Padilla of Last.fm said in a blog post: "We've been playing with the prototypes for a while and can honestly say this is a killer feature."

The website is also working with Google to ensure other Android media apps are capable of scrobbling the music played in them.

Scrobbling involves the automatic sending of data on what the user is listening to directly to the Last.fm website, which lets it compile recommendations on other tracks and bands the listener may be interested in based on this information.

A similar Last.fm app for the iPhone and iPod Touch is also available through iTunes.